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The Story of the Comic Books

The Comic books, when it hit the market, took the publishing medium by storm. Comics were loved by nearly everyone, becoming a great desire for the children, adults and collectors alike.

Comic Books In The Beginning

Around the turn of century, Comics were named so for their comedic content and satirical value. Thus the comic book with those tiny strips strewn together was born.

Originally termed the "funnies" for the hilarity of their content, comics used to be a daily pastime, part of the morning routine and for many I am sure it still is.

These tiny little boxes with bubbles telling stories through their characters have engaged, thrilled and made us laugh throughout our entire lives.

Each generation has their own icons in the comic world ensuring that the comics continue to maintain their relevance. Many people still enjoy the same comics, the same characters from childhood into adulthood, as if they are almost invested into the characters, always rooting for their "good guy" to win.

The comics got their start within the newspapers and magazine publishing business usually as one or two lines only. Later the comics took on a life and industry market of their own. Sometimes displaying stories usually of political nature or politicians, the "funnies", or the comics began to make an impression in the industry as standard publications.

Soon shuffling through the daily newspaper was not complete without checking out your favorite comic strip. People turned the pages daily to see a rolling copy of their favorite characters antics.

Comics also began to mimic and in some cases, set the tone, of modern culture. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish which was driving which, the writers or the public. As comic writers began setting trends and people following them, in some instances they can be credited with swaying political views.

Comicbooks began to take on a following and in some cases were popular enough to be published and marketed solo in a magazine form that was all their own. No longer dependent on publication through the newspaper, they were being collected into volumes and purchased individually in magazine form competing for recognition in the same newsstands where they got their start within the newspaper.

Although by definition comics were in essence comedic or funny, other genres began to emerge, like the superhero variety, which completely revolutionized the industry and made comic books explode onto the market. They soon became one of the most profitable published mediums in America, continuing even today.

Comic books had an appeal because they told the story of day-to-day life through short lines, irony, and random moments. They poked fun at current events in a safe and satirical way making light of social causes. Yet each one comic had its own special theme and represented an event or a sign of the times. It allowed people to laugh at themselves so to say, made light of some pretty serious aspects of life. This allowed people to find humor in things that were sometimes very touchy for the times. Each comic was new, fresh, and sometimes built on a previous comic that had lost its glamour.

Superhero comics were a genre all to themselves, which hit the market running. Each superhero would have his or her own triumphs, nemesis, and one major weakness to overcome just like normal human beings. Superman and kryptonite provide a good example.

People would find themselves wrapped up in their favorite hero, routing for the underdog, the good guy and in the end, triumph was always to the hero.

Comics have the ability to pull you into a fantasy world. People were buying the magazines in large quantities meaning that they had attained a certain status in the society. They would anticipate and anxiously await the release of each new adventure of their favorite superhero comic.

Collecting comics began to become a pass time, a collectors dream. It became a challenge to get the release of the comic book before anyone else could. The price and desirability of comic books continued to grow, and the market began to become extremely profitable and in high demand.

Even to this day, reading comic books is a favorite American pass time. Collectors still go crazy about the first editions of the comic books, which are rare to find. People still buy their newspapers and make it a daily routine to check out their favorite comics, which are part of their favorite memories. Most adults when recalling their childhood still have visions of sitting with their parents, pouring over the "funnies", laughing, being engaged, sharing it as a family event.

Comics truly have made their way into our culture, and continue to move ahead with, and change with the icons of the times.

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